04 Oct 2022
The team at the River Dee have been shortlisted in the categories of “Coast and Waters Award” and “Nature and Climate Action Award” in the prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards 2022.
Carrying our valuable conservation work throughout the year, many who love to walk in the area and visit Lock Muick will be familiar with the landscape of this popular place in the Cairngorms National Park, but the sheer scale of the project and how much work has been done is not widely known to many members of the public.
Successful partnership working between the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, Balmoral Estate and Glenmuick Estate, as well as the River Dee Trust and Woodland Trust Scotland, has brought together restoration measures on a scale not done before: habitat for spawning and juvenile fish has been created by the installation of 70 large wood structures, each comprising several logs with root plates; a 350m section of blocked channel was reconnected by removing a 150 year old man-made embankment; wetlands have been created and enhanced by installing 78 leaky dams and 112 debris dams on minor burns, blocking drains, and creating 16 new wader scrapes; 7000 metres of banks have been protected by new fencing to exclude livestock and remove instream waterings to mitigate diffuse pollution; and, nearly 140,000 have been planted along the banks of the Muick to provide cooling shade and nutrients to the water.
The project delivery team liaised closely with keepers, tenant farmers, landowners, and factors, as well as contractors and government bodies to successfully complete this complex programme of works.
Dr Lorraine Hawkins, River director said “We are thrilled that our Glen Muick River & Wetlands Restoration project has been short listed for these awards. Habitat restoration must be at the forefront of biodiversity action if we are to halt, or better still reverse, the fortunes of our valuable native wildlife. Our project will help safeguard the river, floodplain and the wildlife that depend on it, with the iconic Atlantic salmon the keystone bringing many people and organisations together to work in partnership to mitigate climate change.”
Growing up on the banks of the River Dee, the river is of huge significance to Araminta and we are thrilled to see the hard work of the River Dee team be recognised.
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We are guardians of people’s stories...
We ourselves are stories that weave and take shape through the thread, thanks to the gentle hands of the weavers.
The yarn, the loom, our and your stories, are the tools we have chosen to make what cannot be seen or touched, real and wearable. We give shape to the values in which we believe, we give voice to stories to be shared with those dearest to us, forever.
Not just exquisite works of art to wear, but ambassadors, ‘talking’ objects, timeless storytellers of meanings and values that we want to preserve and pass on.
Meet Isabelle, one of our talented handweavers!
Isabelle has long had an interest in textiles, ever since her grandmother taught her to sew.
She discovered weaving when visiting universities before applying to study. Immediately captivated by the woven textile displays at Loughborough University – the home of our George Wood looms – She became fascinated by how these complex woven structures could be created from just a few cones of yarn.
Isabelle enjoys the slow, hands-on process of weaving, appreciating how it demands your full and present focus, and is always excited to share the complexities of handweaving to our visitors.
Meet Helen, one of our talented handweavers!
As an advocate for sustainability and ethical production, handweaving appealed to Helen as the embodiment of slow, responsible craft.
She fell in love with the challenging yet meditative weave process during her textile degree at the Glasgow School of Art.
Helen adores that she can name the alpacas in the pieces that she weaves, as this level of provenance imbues the pieces with deeper meaning for both weaver and future owner.
We choose 100% undyed British alpaca fiber for our designs because it embodies the values we hold dear: sustainability, durability, and unparalleled luxury. Each fleece is sourced from carefully chosen UK farms where animal welfare is a top priority.
Our close relationships with breeders enable us to trace many of our yarns back to the individual alpacas, ensuring exceptional quality and transparency. The alpaca’s fleeces are left undyed, allowing the natural richness and unique tones of their coats to shine through in every piece.
In the UK, only 5–10% of alpacas produce fleece of the exceptional quality we require. Every fiber is meticulously selected for its fineness, crimp, luster, and colour, ensuring our pieces meet the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
It can take our handweavers anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to complete one of our Signature pieces.
Each piece in our Heritage handwoven collection has been inspired by Araminta’s deep love for the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
From the golden glow of the beech woodlands surrounding her family home in the Royal Deeside Corridor during autumn, to the ethereal light of the Scottish Highlands at dawn and dusk, the landscape is a constant source of inspiration for Araminta. The shifting interplay of colours, textures, and natural rhythms informs each handwoven piece, translating fleeting moments into timeless design.
Any moment in time could become Araminta’s next creation.
Meet Lisa, one of our talented handweavers!
Lisa studied weaving at Heriot Watt University, in the borders of Scotland – an area renowned for its textile production.
She always enjoyed creating things and was recommended to study textiles by her art teacher. When first starting out in her weave degree, she found the slow process of setting up challenging, yet today it’s her favourite part.
She finds peace whilst threading the loom, enjoying and embracing the flow.
Each piece has been lovingly handwoven and finished in our Edinburgh Atelier by our team of handweavers on vintage George Wood looms.
Araminta Campbell is one of the largest employers of handweavers in Scotland, fostering employment for talented craftspeople in Scotland plays a vital role in preserving the rich legacy of Scottish textile craftsmanship. Every thread woven in the Atelier carries with it the heritage and passion of centuries-old traditions, brought vividly to life through contemporary designs, and the work of our talented weavers.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
When you choose one of our handwoven treasures, you’re not just owning a piece of Scotland’s rich textile heritage – you’re connecting with the hands that brought it to life.
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